Voltage regulator

A voltage regulator circuit for controlling the electrical energization of the field winding of an alternating current alternator in a manner to maintain the alternator alternating current output voltage substantially constant, comprising:

• circuit means for producing a direct current alternator output voltage sensing potential signal of a potential level proportional to the alternator output voltage;
• circuit means responsive to said output voltage sensing potential signal for producing a direct current reference potential signal of a potential level inversely proportional to alternator connected load;
• circuit means for producing a direct current ramp potential signal in synchronism with each half cycle of the alternator output voltage which increases in magnitude within a predetermined range during each said half cycle;
• circuit means responsive to said reference potential signal and said ramp potential signal for producing an output signal of a selected polarity when the potential level of said ramp potential signal has reached the potential level of said reference potential signal, respectively;
• means effective to electrically energize the alternator field winding in response to the signal produced by said last-named circuit means;
• and
• alternator output overvoltage protection circuit means responsive to said sensing potential signal for interrupting alternator field winding energization when the alternator output voltage level exceeds a predetermined desired alternator output voltage level by a selected percentage of the desired alternator output voltage.

A voltage regulator circuit for controlling the electrical energization of the field winding of an alternating current alternator in a manner to maintain the alternator alternating current output voltage substantially constant, comprising:

• circuit means responsive to the alternator output voltage for producing a direct current reference potential signal of a potential level inversely proportional to alternator connected load;
• circuit means for producing a direct current ramp potential signal in synchronism with each half cycle of the alternator output voltage which increases in magnitude within a predetermined range during each said half cycle;
• circuit means responsive to said reference potential signal and said ramp potential signal for producing an output signal of a selected polarity when the potential level of said ramp potential signal has reached the potential level of said reference potential signal;
• means effective to electrically energize the alternator field winding in response to the signal produced by said last-named circuit means;
• means for producing a direct current frequency error ramp signal of a potential level inversely proportional to the alternator output voltage frequency and of a substantially ground potential level while the alternator output voltage is of the desired frequency;
• and
• means for applying said frequency error ramp signal to said first named circuit means in a sense to increase the potential level of said reference potential signal with a decrease of frequency of the alternator output voltage.

A voltage regulator circuit for controlling the electrical energization of the field winding of an alternating current alternator in a manner to maintain the alternator alternating current output voltage substantially constant, comprising:

• circuit means for producing a direct current alternator output voltage sensing potential signal of a potential level proportional to the alternator output voltage;
• circuit means responsive to said output voltage sensing potential signal for producing a direct current reference potential signal of a potential level inversely proportional to alternator connected load;
• circuit means for producing a direct current ramp potential signal in synchronism with each half cycle of the alternator output voltage which increases in magnitude within a predetermined range during each said half cycle;
• circuit means responsive to said reference potential signal and said ramp potential signal for producing an output signal of a selected polarity when the potential level of said ramp potential signal has reached the potential level of said reference potential signal, respectively;
• means effective to electrically energize the alternator field winding in response to the signal produced by said last-named circuit means;
• means for producing a direct current frequency error ramp signal of a potential level inversely proportional to the alternator output voltage frequency and of a substantially ground potential level while the alternator output voltage is of the desired frequency;
• means for applying said frequency error ramp signal to said first named circuit means in a sense to increase the potential level of said reference potential signal with a decrease of frequency of alternator output voltage;
• and
• means for selectively conditioning said voltage regulator circuit for either of two alternator output voltage frequencies.

A voltage regulator circuit for controlling the electrical energization of the field winding of an alternating current alternator in a manner to maintain the alternator alternating current output voltage substantially constant, comprising:

• circuit means for producing a direct current alternator output voltage sensing potential signal of a potential level proportional to the alternator output voltage;
• circuit means responsive to said output voltage sensing potential signal for producing a direct current reference potential signal of a potential level inversely proportional to alternator connected load;
• circuit means for producing a direct current ramp potential signal in synchronism with each half cycle of the alternator output voltage which increases in magnitude within a predetermined range during each said half cycle;
• circuit means responsive to said reference potential signal and said ramp potential signal for producing an output signal of a selected polarity when the potential level of said ramp potential signal has reached the potential level of said reference potential signal, respectively;
• means effective to electrically energize the alternator field winding in response to the signal produced by said last-named circuit means;
• alternator output overvoltage protection circuit means responsive to said sensing potential signal for interrupting alternator field winding energization when the alternator output voltage level exceeds a predetermined desired alternator output voltage level by a selected percentage of the desired alternator output voltage;
• means for producing a direct current frequency error ramp signal of a potential level inversely proportional to the alternator output voltage frequency and of a substantially ground potential level while the alternator output voltage is of the desired frequency;
• means for applying said frequency error ramp signal to said first named circuit means in a sense to increase the potential level of said reference potential signal with a decrease of frequency of the alternator output voltage;
• and
• means for selectively conditioning said voltage regulator circuit for either of two alternator output voltage frequencies.